Built to benefit a children's charity, our latest show project brings a little bit of country to the Motor City

Once again, Home magazine editors huddled with former pro footballers and designers to create our annual Home of Legends. The two-story, 6,000-square-foot showhouse—which sits comfortably amid the existing residences of the small, well-established neighborhood of Birmingham, Michigan, near Detroit (site of this year's Super Bowl)—was built and decorated to benefit the NFL Alumni, a group of charity-minded ex-gridiron greats that raises funds for its Caring for Kids program. We partnered with local developer Paul Mobley and architect Brian Howard to deliver a dwelling with traditional attributes on the outside, and an up-to-date, four-bedroom, six-bath floor plan on the inside. "We played off of the 'modern farmhouse' exterior for a comfortable, casual interior," says designer Tanya Hamilton, who used warm wood tones and natural textures to achieve the relaxed result she desired.

In the kitchen, wide-plank hickory-stained hardwood flooring grounds the efficient layout, which features the latest in commercial-style stainless appliances and a center island with a food-prep surface on one side and a bar-height counter on the other. Turned legs and open storage on the walls and in base cabinets lend an unfitted-furniture look, easing the decorative transition to the informal eating area and family room in this open plan. The oatmeal glaze of the maple cabinetry lining the perimeter of the room is offset by the garnet-glazed color of the island. Rosewood granite counters and a tumbled limestone tile backsplash tie the hues together, and rustic hardware imparts a timeless, country-inflected feel.

At the rear of the house, the kitchen opens to a large informal dining area and family room. "It's exactly what people are asking for these days," says architect Brian Howard, "a very livable, flexible plan." These east-facing rooms have walls of windows to capture the morning light and pairs of sliding and French doors that open onto a back porch. The table in the eating area seats eight for everyday use and can easily handle larger gatherings of family and friends when set up as a buffet. "The classical black Windsor chairs accent the pine table's light tea-stain finish," says interior designer Hamilton. "And the table's chunky profile and large size suits the room's proportions." A rough-hewn bluestone fireplace with a thick, 4-by-4-inch wooden barn beam for a mantel is the focal point of the cozy family room.

In a house this size, we can fit two separate bathrooms in the master suite," says Howard. "Couples love the privacy this type of arrangement offers." At 145 square feet, the bath for the woman of the house is large enough to accommodate not only a 4-by-5½-foot walk-in shower but also an old-fashioned, claw-footed soaking tub. The shower is equipped with a built-in bench and housed in a glass enclosure that adds to the space's light and airy look. Although this room is designed for one, the architect still forged a separate compartment for the toilet, dividing it from the tub area with a wall and providing it with light and ventilation from a small exterior window. Hamilton chose maple-wood cabinetry graced by a pale cream glaze and accented with crystal hardware for a feminine look. Rosewood granite counters and limestone floor tiles complete the spa-like aesthetic.

1. The first floor is divided into two zones—formal living and dining rooms at the front, and a large informal living space (great room, eating area, and kitchen) at the rear—linked by a wide main foyer. A spacious back mudroom, with a laundry closet, powder room, a bench and hooks for coats, and plenty of storage, connects to an attached three-car garage.

2. Upstairs, each of the three secondary bedrooms has a dedicated bathroom, and the master suite has his-and-hers baths and separate walk-in closets. The attached three-car garage has a large storage area/bonus room above.